TIM McWHORTERhttps://timmcwhorter.com
Author
Fri, 07 Dec 2018 20:50:17 +0000 en
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1 http://wordpress.com/https://s0.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.pngTIM McWHORTERhttps://timmcwhorter.com
‘Tis the Season…https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/12/07/tis-the-season-2/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/12/07/tis-the-season-2/#commentsFri, 07 Dec 2018 14:54:47 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=918Continue reading ‘Tis the Season…]]>…for being busy. It’s that time of year. The holiday season is in full swing, which means more family obligations than usual. My list of things to get done by year’s end is going to take longer than what remains of the year to complete. And the one aspect of my life that suffers (as always) when things get busy is, you guessed it, the writing. I’m still plugging along on this new novel, but not at the pace I’d like to be. So, in the meantime, I’m basking in the glow of the wonderful reviews that Let There Be Dark is getting. And it’s getting some hella good reviews. Here are but a few…

“I was amazed with all the plot twists Tim managed in such a short amount of time — really, really impressive storytelling. If you love reading author collections as much as I do, this is a must have and Tim McWhorter should go on your list of “ones to watch.” – Sadie “Mother Horror” Hartmann, Cemetery Dance (Full review can be found HERE)

“It’s one of the few collections I’ve read this year that I can say ALL of the stories are fantastic. Not one bad or even slightly bruised apple in the bunch!” – Angela, Horror Maiden’s Book Reviews (Full review and bonus interview can be found HERE)

“A seriously badass collection of short horror fiction that will rock your world! Tim McWhorter knows people very well. It’s one big thing that makes him a great writer. This beauty gets FIVE STARS all day, every day.” – Brian J. Lewis, Damaged Skull Reviews (Full review can be found HERE)

In conjunction with the reviews, I’ve also done a couple of interviews over the last few months. If you’re interested in hearing what I have to say, the interviews can be found at the following links…

2018 also saw me hire the services of a publicist for the first time. Most of the aforementioned would not have been possible without their help. I can’t thank Erin and Tim at Hook of a Book enough. You can check out their site HERE if you’re looking for some publicity or editing help of your own.

Lastly, I’m happy to announce that I joined the Horror Writer’s Association this year and have taken part in a handful of meetings with the Ohio Chapter. I’ve already met some great writers that I’m proud to call friends. All in all, it’s been a pretty good year. Things are continuing to trend upward. If I can get this latest novel in the shape I want it to be, I hope to submit it by early spring. Hopefully, this one will be THE ONE. Fingers crossed.

But, first, I gotta get back to work.

Happy holidays!

Til next time, my friends…

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/12/07/tis-the-season-2/feed/1tm5to1Busy, Busy…https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/08/24/busy-busy/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/08/24/busy-busy/#respondFri, 24 Aug 2018 15:04:15 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=911Continue reading Busy, Busy…]]>And so it has been, my friends. With a new release, multiple events and continued work on my next novel, this summer has already been a full one. The next few weeks stand to be just as busy. Wouldn’t change a thing, though. #livingthedream

This past Tuesday saw the release of my first horror-related material in three years….

“From an oddities shop looking to expand their macabre collection, to a back roads bridge with a horrifying past, Let There Be Dark is a collection of eight sinister stories full of ghostly phantoms, savage beasts, and the most frightening creature of all: humans. This first horror collection from the author of the best-selling novel, Bone White, thrusts you beyond the fringe and reminds us why we should all fear the dark…”

Let There Be Dark can be found HERE, along with most other online book retailers.

This Sunday, August 26th, I will be reading from and signing copies of my mainstream novel, The Winding Down Hours, at The Book Loft in German Village. If you’re in the area, I will begin reading at 1:00, then will be answering questions and signing until there’s nobody left. So come on by and say hello! Find out more at their WEBSITE.

On Friday September 7th, I can be found peddling books and chatting up readers at the First Friday Arts in the Alley hosted by the Gahanna Area Arts Council. Shenanigans begin at 6:00 pm and run until 9:00, when the party may or may not be moved to a local drinking establishment.

In September, I will be invading Lexington, KY for ScareFest! It’ll be a fun-filled weekend full of all things horror, including movie stars, television stars, artists, authors, makeup artists, paranormal investigators and the like. This will also be the event debut for Let There Be Dark, so I’m excited about that. Should be a great way to kick off Autumn! Check out the event HERE.

After that, things slow down a bit and I should be able to focus even more time to my next novel. I continue to go back and forth on the title, so I will continue to keep it to myself for now. However, I hope to be handing it off to beta readers by the end of the year, so if you’re looking for a job with no pay and little benefits…

Til next time, my friends…

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/08/24/busy-busy/feed/0tm5to1A Bit of This and Thathttps://timmcwhorter.com/2018/04/04/a-bit-of-this-and-that/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/04/04/a-bit-of-this-and-that/#respondWed, 04 Apr 2018 18:01:37 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=902Continue reading A Bit of This and That]]>Hey all!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted on here, so I thought I’d offer an update on everything I have going on…

First of all, the publisher responsible for my three novels, (Bone White, Blackened, The Winding Down Hours) has been purchased by Hydra Publications. While this can sometimes produce headaches and uncertainty, the transition thus far has been seamless. The contracts are still in place and will remain so for their duration, if not longer. I’m proud to say I am now part of the Hydra family.

Since its release in the fall of 2017, sales for The Winding Down Hours have been very (and I can’t stress this enough) very slow. I can only assume that my readers have spoken, and they’re telling me they prefer I scare the crap out of them. Well, let me tell you, the message is coming through loud and clear. (But that doesn’t mean I won’t strap on my literary shoes again sometime down the road.)

What it does mean, however, is that right now, I have a steady output of horror coming your way. I don’t have a release date yet, but my collection of short stories titled, Let There Be Dark, will be released by Hydra Publications probably late spring/early summer. I can’t wait to share it with you all, and look to do some serious promotion for it once it’s out. I even have a cool contest for you all as we get closer to release date. The synopsis will go something like:

“From an oddities shop with a collection too macabre for even the most hardcore of enthusiasts, to a country road bridge with a horrifying past, Let There Be Dark is the first horror short story collection from the author of the horrifying novel, Bone White. Between these covers you will encounter decades-old ghosts, blood thirsty creatures and humans with more than one screw loose. These eight short stories are sure to help you discover where your threshold for fear lies.”

Finally, the first draft of my next horror novel is approximately 90% complete. Once it is finished and has undergone a whole lot of criticism from a select few readers and 7 or 8 revisions, I hope to have it ready for submission by the end of the year. Fingers crossed. As for the title and what it’s about, you’ll just have to stay tuned…

‘Til next time, my friends.

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/04/04/a-bit-of-this-and-that/feed/0tm5to1Coming Soon!https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/03/06/coming-soon-2/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/03/06/coming-soon-2/#respondTue, 06 Mar 2018 13:24:13 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=893
]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2018/03/06/coming-soon-2/feed/0tm5to1LTBD (ebook Cover)Got links?https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/09/29/got-links/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/09/29/got-links/#respondFri, 29 Sep 2017 12:15:36 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=878Continue reading Got links?]]>Whether you’re old school and like to hold the book you’re reading, or one of those people who prefer the convenience of being able to carry your library around on your cell phone, The Winding Down Hours is available to you. Look on Amazon, barnesandnoble.com, iTunes, Kobo, Google Play and pretty much anywhere you shop for books, and you’ll find it. Here are a few links to help save time…

The Taylors haven’t spent this much time together in years. But with their mother gone and the tendrils of dementia slowly entwining their father, the three siblings have one last chance to relive their idyllic youth while packing up the family home. Life isn’t as simple as when they were children, however, and missteps of the past have driven them irreconcilably apart. Only Mason, the middle Taylor, is determined to mend the fractures before the weekend ends and their time on the Cape is done.

A story of the common hopes, trials and disappointments of family life – and just how difficult acceptance can be.

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/06/08/coming-september-2017/feed/0tm5to1TWDH (ebook cover).jpgIT HAS ARRIVED!!!https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/05/09/2nd-edition/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/05/09/2nd-edition/#respondTue, 09 May 2017 14:42:27 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=849The 2nd edition of SHADOWS REMAIN is now available in both paperback and ebook! The new edition contains a cleaner, tighter, professionally-edited text, various story line alterations and a new spin on the ending. This is the novella SR was meant to be all along!

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/05/09/2nd-edition/feed/0tm5to1Shadows Cover (ebook)Did Someone Say Update???https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/03/27/did-someone-say-update/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/03/27/did-someone-say-update/#respondMon, 27 Mar 2017 12:18:45 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=839Continue reading Did Someone Say Update???]]>Been busy as you know what lately, so I thought I’d offer an update on all of the various projects I have going on right now…

The second edition of SHADOWS REMAIN is in the final stage of editing. The cover is finished (looks amazing) and I’m thrilled with the editing that has taken place. The text is not only better and reads smoother, but a few very cool aspects of the story have been slightly altered. We’re shooting for a mid to late April release. I should be able to narrow that down in the next week or two.

THE WINDING DOWN HOURS has finally found a publisher and I’m excited to say that editing has begun! This story is ten years in the making and I am so excited to finally be able to share it with the world. Updates on this one will be coming over the next few months, but all estimations point to a late autumn/early winter release. Fingers crossed…

Writing on the next horror novel is well underway and I would estimate it to be about 75% complete. But that’s only the first draft, so there’s still a long way to go before it’s time to submit. We’re getting there, though. Hope to have it ready for submission sometime late summer/early fall.

Oh, and there’s one more exciting bit of news to share, though I can’t speak of it yet. It’s something I’m pretty stoked about and will share as soon as I’m allowed. (Hopefully in the next month or two) So stay tuned…

Curtain opens on the interior of an upscale Italian restaurant. White linen tablecloths hang from the few tables positioned onstage. The room is sparsely populated with diners, suggesting an off night. Jake has just proposed to Rachel, his girlfriend of four years. He is waiting for an answer…

Jake: Well?

Rachel: Hmm…I’m thinking.

Jake: (sarcastically) Well, by all means, take your time.

Rachel: Oh, I will. (pause) How do I know you’re the right man for me?

Jake: We’ve been dating for four years. Have you not given it any thought ‘til now?

Rachel: Oh, I’ve thought about it, I’m just not sure yet.

(the waitress approaches the table)

Waitress: Any dessert? Coffee perhaps?

Jake: Um, none for me thanks. I was considering a bottle of champagne (turns to Rachel sarcastically)…but I’m just not sure yet. Could you give us a minute?

Waitress: Absolutely. Take your time. (walks away)

Jake: (to himself) Don’t worry, she is.

Rachel: Don’t you want me to be sure?

Jake: Of course I want you to be sure. I just thought that maybe you were already at that point. It’s not like we haven’t talked about a future together. (pause) Are you having doubts about us?

Rachel: No, no doubts, really. (pause) Which reminds me, have you heard the new Gwen Stefani song? It’s a huge departure from what she did with the band.

Jake: No, I haven’t. But I’m sure it’s good. Can we get back to the conversation at hand? Please?

Waitress: Appears to have a fairly pleasant personality from what I can tell. Though, maybe a touch sarcastic.

Jake:(growing increasingly irritated) Do ya think?

Waitress: Does he have any money?

Rachel: (while shaking her head no) Yes.

Waitress: Does he treat you right?

Rachel: Somewhat.

Jake: Somewhat?!

Waitress: How is he, you know, in bed?

Jake: Excuse me? What the–

Rachel: (cuts Jake off) Adequate. I guess I can’t complain. Often. Though I could make a suggestion from time to time.

Waitress: Honey, couldn’t we all?

(laughter erupts between the two women)

Jake: Ha, ha. May I make a suggestion? That you remember who is leaving the tip?

Waitress: A little testy though, isn’t he?

Rachel: Oh, yea. He can be.

Waitress: Definitely something to take into consideration.

Jake: Well, maybe it’s because this proposal isn’t going the way I’d planned. Or hoped. I need an answer.

Rachel: I’m sorry. I just wanted a second opinion. Let’s go with the Tiramisu.

Jake: (exasperated) Son of a…somebody shoot me!

Rachel: What’s wrong, baby? You wanted the Ricotta cake, didn’t you?

Jake: (to the waitress) The Tiramisu. Please.

Waitress: Would that be with or without champagne?

(Jake hesitates)

Rachel: With. By all means. Can’t celebrate without it!

(The curtain closes on a smiling Rachel, and Jake, elbows on the table, head cradled in his hands)

]]>https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/02/14/do-i-a-play-in-one-act-happy-valentines-day/feed/0tm5to1Getting Away (Or, How to Stay Sane as an Artist)https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/02/08/766/
https://timmcwhorter.com/2017/02/08/766/#respondWed, 08 Feb 2017 20:55:02 +0000http://timmcwhorter.com/?p=766Continue reading Getting Away (Or, How to Stay Sane as an Artist)]]>I’ve just returned (unscathed, mind you) from my annual trek into the deep woods with the sole purpose of writing. Over the course of a few days, I worked on both the edits for the 2nd edition of Shadows and wrote several thousand new words in the upcoming horror novel. (I would share the title with you, but since I keep changing it, sharing at this stage in the game would be pointless.) What I will share with you, however, are a few thoughts I had while away. Keep these in mind the next time you choose to disappear into the woods for whatever reason…

A cabin located deep in the woods at night with no cell phone service can be a very lonely place. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. Relaxing? Yes. Distraction-free? Yes. Lonesome? Also yes.

A cabin located deep in the woods at night with no cell phone service and the film score to Schindler’s List playing in the background can be a very depressing place. It took only two songs in to realize that. I wouldn’t recommend it. But if you’re a glutton for punishment and choose to ignore my recommendation, just remember to hide all of the sharp objects ahead of time. I’m not even kidding.

The advent of Netflix goes hand in hand with lower word counts. It’s a proven fact. (By me, if by no one else.) Especially with the availability of full seasons of shows for which to binge on. (Did I mention you get lonely sometimes?) This is the first time I’ve had Netflix available to me at the cabin, and The Ranch proved a worthy adversary to writing more than once.

While soaking in a hot tub deep in the woods at night can be a relaxing way to end a long day of writing, just remember to uncheck all horror film scores from your playlists before setting Spotify to ‘shuffle.’ Otherwise, the next scream you hear may be your own.

When the words are flowing freely, so will the time. As with most trips away from home, when you are at your busiest is when time seems to go by so quickly. And in this case, it truly is a double-edged sword.

Microwaved chicken pot pies make a respectable dinner when paired with red wine. (The vino of choice for this trip was Apothic Red.)

And finally, with the world in chaos and life being as busy as it gets, it sometimes becomes necessary to check out for a few days in order to concentrate on being creative. Whether you’re a writer, painter or like to sketch a bit of still life, there are few places more conducive to creativity than the woods, completely isolated from civilization. And let me tell you, with the beauty of the environment, the surrounding wildlife and the fact there’s not a soul around for miles, if you can’t create art in that environment, then brother, you might as well give it up and find a different hobby.